Tubular sensor for the detection of an analyte

Abstract

An implantable sensor can be used for determining a concentration of at least one analyte in a medium, particularly in a body tissue and/or a body fluid. The implantable sensor can comprise a flexible, tubular sensor element. This sensor element has a tubular body on which at least two electrode rings are mounted for electrochemical determination of the concentration of the analyte.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT / EP2008 / 055233 filed Apr. 29, 2008, which claims priority to European Application Nos. 07107436.3, filed May 3, 2007, and 07116982.5, filed Sep. 21, 2007.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a subcutaneous sensor for determining a concentration of at least one analyte in a medium, particularly in a body tissue and / or a body fluid. The invention further relates to a sensor system and to a method for producing an implantable sensor. Such sensors or sensor systems are used particularly in the medical sector, for example for electrochemical determination of a concentration of blood glucose, triglycerides, lactate or other analytes.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003]Determination of blood glucose concentrations and corresponding medication are an essential part of the daily routine of diabetics. The blood glucose concentration has to be determined quickly and simply...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0052]In this way, by means of one or more of the implanted sensors, it is possible to assemble a sensor system which provides the patient with measurement data, for example concerning a blood glucose concentration, in a reliable way and consistently over quite a long period of time (for example a w

Problems solved by technology

However, this method has various disadvantages.

In the first place, this method is extremely complicated and entails several handling steps.

For many patients, particularly older people and children, these handling steps can often be carried out only with difficulty since the patients are restricted, for example, in terms of their motor ability and their visual acuity.

Furthermore, these method steps can be carried out discretely only in a few cases, which means, for example, that the patient's privacy is protected only to an inadequate extent when carrying out a measurement at the workplace.

Moreover, incorrect operation of the measurement method can easily lead to false measured values, in some cases with fatal consequences resulting from incorrect medication based on the measurement results.

However, because of the different diameter of these coaxial electrodes, these individual electrode surfaces differ in terms of their properties and are limited in number.

Although the coaxial design is described in US 2007/0027384 A1 as being particularly insensitive with respect to bending, in contrast to planar sensor constructions, the solid structure in itself entails a high degree of stiffness of the sensors, and bending may even alter the active electrode surface areas and thus greatly influence the measured values.

This structure has the disadvantage that the exact position of the individual electrodes may be undefined, since the spiral-shaped electrodes can move along a longitudinal axis of the sensors.

Moreover, the number of the electrodes thus confi

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